World Cup

So, that's it.

England's final game on home soil before the start of the World Cup ends in frustration and disappointment.

What happens next?

• 30 May: Deadline for naming World Cup squads.
• 06 June: Friendly v New Zealand in Florida.
• 10 June: Friendly v Costa Rica in Florida.
• 17 June: Opening group game v Croatia in Arlington, Texas (21:00 BST kick-off).

The World Cup will be here before you know it. Will England be ready to mount a serious challenge?

Goodnight.

England

Image source, Getty Images

England captain-for-the-night Marc Guehi, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about captaining his country: "I don't really like talking about myself because it's a team sport and it's about the team. But I'm glad, I'm grateful to be given this opportunity to captain my country. It's a very nice moment."

On being a natural captain: "I wouldn't say I'm a natural captain. I'd say others maybe see that in me more than I see it in myself. But I'll happily take the responsibility on. It's an honour to have done that tonight. I know not many players get that opportunity so the fact I've had that is a blessing."

On wanting to win tonight: "I'd say I think it's important to put these things in perspective. That's why you have these tests in March to play against a team like Japan, very well-drilled. A team that's going to the World Cup and looking to get out of the group themselves. It's important we put things into perspective, learn from these moments. On a whole, it's been a really good campaign, the first loss we've had, so let's move on really for the World Cup come June, stick to what we've been doing and have each other's backs."

BaggiosPonytail: As soon as we play a good team we look very ordinary. Formation was a mess, no incisive passing and far too congested in the final third. Anderson will be playing alongside Rice in midfield, that is crystal clear. None of those (hopefully) behind Kane have done much to stake a claim for a starting spot. Concerning but unfortunately watching England for many years unsurprising.

England boss Thomas Tuchel, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about his attacking players: "It's not about Phil [Foden], it's not about Cole [Palmer]. Of course, we want from our strikers who played today in offensive positions, we want offensive actions, we want runs, we want dribbling, we want dropping a shoulder, we want winning one on ones. We want them to take risks, that they are creative, that they are dangerous."

On the disappointment of the result: "Of course, we could do better. It's just March and put it into perspective. Look who was in camp. Look how many players are missing. Look how many players are injured.

"It's disappointing, but it is not the end of the world. These things can happen in a March camp which is, for us, basically a particular camp because so many players are highly invested in major decisions in club football. They don't come fresh at all.

If then seven/eight players drop out of camp and leave us like Bukayo [Saka], Harry [Kane], Declan Rice and Jude [Bellingham] is not available, guys who can push and bring quality and leadership, then John Stones is not in camp, then it can look like this.

"It's unpleasant and we don't like it, I'm the first one to admit I hate losing. That's just the reality of it and has not a lot to do with what will happen in June."

England

Image source, Getty Images

England suffered their first ever defeat against an Asian opponent, having been unbeaten in 10 matches prior to tonight’s game (W6 D4).

Joleon Lescott
Former England defender on ITV

We've got a long way to go. If we are relying on set-pieces to win us the tournament then it's going to be a long tournament.

But if we take the game in perspective, sometimes when you lose this close to a tournament it is a blessing in disguise.

England

Image source, Getty Images

England's Morgan Rogers, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "We go out to win every game and be at our best. We weren't at it. Japan are a really good side and they took their chance and we didn't.

"We keep moving, we keep working, we keep pushing. This isn't the end goal by all means. We know what we're looking forward to, we're all aligned and we'll be ready for that moment when it comes in the summer.

"This isn't the be all and end all. I think the fans are going to be disappointed. The media are going to talk about 'we're not ready yet and we're not favourites' and stuff, we don't look at that at all.

"We know how good we are. We know how good we can be. We believe we can challenge any team in the world and it's about showing that and being at our best when it comes to that. We're still a few months away from that, we'll learn and work and be ready.

"We've got everything as a nation to go and compete at the highest level. And we know that. It's about focusing, doing everything right, looking at each other and looking at ourselves and being at our best and be ready to go."

Liza Radley: Regardless of the result, what a complete waste of a week of international football. Domestic leagues brought to a standstill at a crucial point of the season and we have learned nothing. Same players will be going to World Cup with or without these friendlies.

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live at Wembley

Image source, Reuters

I don't think that trial with the four attackers...they just got in each others way. They played far too narrow and got in each other's spaces.

It wasn't until they had that central figure, that striker that took the attention of the central figures. When you're playing with Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, they're at their best when there's space between the midfield and defenders.

What Dominic Solanke or Harry Kane do is occupy the back four then those players have the pockets and areas where they can display their talents best. But they just had four quality players in each other's space in front of the Japan defence unable to get in behind.

Andrew Easton: If sideways passing won trophies, we’d be unstoppable.

Joleon Lescott
Former England defender on ITV

Thomas Tuchel needs better performing players [in the front line], regardless of whether they are a number nine or a false nine. But as he said, and I agree totally, why shouldn't we rely on Harry Kane? Other nations rely on their best goalscorers and top performers, and we should be no different. I'm sure France will be relying on Kylian Mbappe.

England

England boss Thomas Tuchel, speaking to ITV on the 26 players he will be taking to the World Cup: "I need to think and reflect and then we will take decisions. [On full-backs] We have a lot of options and we will arrive with good full-backs."

On whether the shirt is weighing heavy on auditioning players: "I don't want to engage in this discussion because I think it is very clear what we want to do and how we want to play, and focus more on the principals and on the doing instead of thinking about what it means.

"Playing for England comes with pressure, it comes with noise, that is just how it is. We need to see how the players adapt to that and we can only see it if we try it, so we tried it and we have to learn from it. We have two months now to get it out of our system. The players will play a lot of football and then we will be ready."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Wembley

Image source, Getty Images

England's friendlies against Uruguay and Japan were billed as a 'Send-Off Series', being their final games on home soil ahead of the World Cup.

Thomas Tuchel's side did indeed a get a send-off – but not the sort they wanted as they were booed by fans inside Wembley at the end of this defeat against Japan.

England could have few complaints as Japan, 18th in the Fifa rankings, were by far the sharper side until the latter stages, when the introduction of a recognised striker in Dominic Solanke at least gave the home team some shape.

It was not enough to force a draw, with this and the 1-1 result against Uruguay amounting to an unsatisfactory return from a largely experimental international camp.

Cole Palmer played in the number 10 role but struggled, and there was no joy for Phil Foden, who has had an unfulfilling two games.

Elliot Anderson at least showed why he will start England's first World Cup game against Croatia in June, but the big takeaway was again the concern about how Tuchel's side shape up without Harry Kane's cutting edge.

Possible deputies Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have not stepped up yet, while the Phil Foden experiment looked exactly that.

This will not be news to Thomas Tuchel – but he and England's supporters must hope nothing happens to Kane because they look a side in reduced circumstances without him.

Image source, Getty Images

Steve: It's crazy to think that after games against Uruguay and Japan, only Rashford and possibly Maguire have done anything to stake their claim to even be in the squad, let alone start.

England

More from England boss Thomas Tuchel speaking to ITV about whether there is an over-reliance on Harry Kane: "Well, why would Argentina not rely on Messi or Portugal not rely on Cristiano Ronaldo? This is totally normal. Key figures left camp for us and we saw that a bit. We lacked a punch.

"Today in the first half we played way too narrow, we didn't want that but we made the pitch too narrow for ourselves. In the second half we were more dynamic, we used the width more with our wingers and full-backs, which is what we wanted to do the whole time. We took more risks and had chances but we could not convert."

Echo Chamber: Says something when Lewis Hall comes on from 70 mins and he has the only 2nd shot on target. He showed more in 20 mins than most of the rest of the team. Should be a guaranteed place in the world cup squad!

England

Image source, Getty Images

England manager Thomas Tuchel, speaking to ITV: "For sure it hurts. It's always painful to lose, and to lose at home hurts a lot. We got punished for not a lot, for one counter attack in the first half. We need these matches, we know it is a tough opponent, we had several players not available. A new formation again, we tried a lot of stuff, and we need to learn."

On the false nine experiment: "It was only a false nine on one side, on the other side it was a normal nine. We need to put it into perspective, it is not the end of the world. It is never nice and we don't like it but it's not a question of false nine or normal nine, it is a matter of performing and making a statement, and winning one on ones, and being brave. We can do better but it is a well drilled team that we are playing against, a new formation and new players."